Building-block.



PATENTED JULY 12, 1904. L. M. LARROWB.

BUILDING BLOCK.

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UNITED STATES Patented July 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS M. LARROWE, OF MUNOIE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. CHARLES RANDALL, OF MUNOIE, INDIANA.

BUILDING-BLOCK SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 765,086, dated July 12, 1904.

Application filed June 6, 1903. Serial No. 160,426. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS M. LARROWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented a Building-Block, of which the following is a specification.

\ My invention has relation to improvements in building-blocks; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out out in the claim.

Figure l is a perspective view of an artiiicial stone constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is abottom plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4. is an elevation of one end of the block; and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5v 5, Fig. l.

Referring to the figures of the drawings by numerals of reference, 1 represents my improved building-block, which may be constructed in any suitable form. In the present instance the same is 'shown in rectangular shape. I provide the front face 2 with any desired ornamental pattern, such as an imitation of roughly-dressed stone, having a surrounding smooth marginal edge portion. At the opposite ends of the block I provide enlarged square recesses 3, having surrounding marginal edge portions. In the bottom of the block I provide a rectangular recess 4, which extends longitudinally across the bottom of the block and which is provided with a narrow marginal edge portion surrounding the same. On the rear portion of the block I provide longitudinal grooves 5, which are arranged one above the other, said grooves being constructed to extend through the ends of If Iso elect, I may provide the rear face with transverse grooves 6, which cross or intersect the grooves 5.

rlhe block herein described is preferably constructed by providing a mold having the bottom thereof carved to produce the desired ornamental front face of the block. A mixture "i, of sand, cement, and water, is then placed in the mold to form the front face of the stone.- A second mixture 8, of sand, cement, and water, but containing a greater proportion of sand than the mixture 7, is then placed in the mold and upon the layer forming the front face of the block. Subsequent to this' operation broken stones 9 are placed within the mold and are tamped, so as to mix with a portion of the second layer 8. This mixture of stone, sand, cement, and water forms the rear and major portion of the artiiicial stone. The mold is, as is obvious, so shaped as to form the recesses 3 and 4. The grooves pare formed by means of a trowel or follower of suitable construction. After the block has been molded the same is put aside to dry and is then ready for use.

In using the blocks they are placed one upon the other, as ordinarily, and cement or mortar is placed in the recesses 3 and 4. and permits the blocks to bear directly upon each other and at the same time to be bound rmly together. Plaster can be directly applied to the blocks and will be anchored within the grooves 5. Beams, joists, or other desired objects can be placed within the recesses 6. The block is extremely inexpensive, durable, and attractive and when used materially reduces the cost of a structure by the saving in cost of the blocks and the amount of mortar employed.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but Ido not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A building-block comprising a body portion, having a projecting roughened front face surrounded by a narrow marginal edge surface, squared recesses at opposite ends of the block and longitudinal grooves on the rear In testimony Whereofl aflxrny signature in face of the block which extend through the presence of two Witnesses.

ends, of the same, and a rectangular recess formed in the bottom of the block and eXtend- LEWIS M' LARROWE' ing longitudinally across the same and having Witnesses: a narrow marginal edge portion, substantially NVILLIAM F. MCDOWELL, as specified. T. P. MCCORD. 

